New Museum
This striking home for downtown's contemporary art hub—led by savvy director Lisa Phillips—made a splashy debut in December 2007, thanks to its extraordinary lopsided, six-story building designed by Japanese duo Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa from acclaimed architectural firm SANAA. The space's boxy interior may appear less awe-inspiring than the exterior's sophisticated riff on a child's set of unbalanced building blocks, but the upside is that it won't detract from the raft of temporary shows that will cycle through here every four months. (Expect highly conceptual, head-scratching installations from unheard-of artists, as is the museum's mission.)
Tip: Come Friday evenings for live musical performances, and don't skip the gift store, which is actually fun and worthwhile.
Admission: $12 adults, $8 seniors, free for guests 18 and under; free admission Thursdays 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Closed Mon. and Tues.
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